Medication timer

• US 6,324,123 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chris M. Durso
• Original Assignee: Chris M. Durso
• Inventors: Durso, Chris M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/506,552
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/109, 221/2, 221/15, 221/3
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/127 used as containers or cartridges means for incorporating a battery in the case G04G17/00

Abstract

A medication timer for tracking when medication is to be taken. The medication timer includes a bottle for housing the medication. The bottle has an open end which has a lip. The lip has threads formed thereon. A first cap for removably closing the bottle has a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are generally annular. The first and second portions each has an interior threaded surface. A timer for tracking medication use has a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending therebetween. The peripheral side wall has threads thereon. The peripheral side wall has a plurality of bores therein. Control circuitry is fixedly mounted in an interior of the timer. The control circuitry is adapted for tracking elapsing time, and adapted for activation of an alarm. A display for displaying information from the control circuitry is mounted on the control circuitry. The display is operationally coupled to the control circuitry. A button for programming the control circuitry is in each one of the bores in the timer.

Claims

1. A timed medication container for tracking times of medication use, said timed medication container comprising:

a bottle for housing the medication, said bottle having an open end, said open end having a lip thereon, said lip having threads formed thereon;

a first cap for removably closing said bottle, said first cap having a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions being generally annular, said first and second portions each having an interior threaded surface;

a timer for tracking medication use, said timer having a top wall, a bottom wall and peripheral side wall extending therebetween, said peripheral side wall having threads thereon, said peripheral side wall having a plurality of bores therein;

control circuitry being fixedly mounted in an interior of said timer, said control circuitry being adapted for tracking elapsing time, and adapted for activation of an alarm;

a display for displaying information from said control circuitry, said display being mounted on said control circuitry, said display being operationally coupled to said control circuitry; and

a plurality of buttons for programming said control circuitry, each of said buttons being in one of said bores in said timer.

2. The timed medication container for tracking times of medication use as in claim 1, wherein said first cap further comprises:

said first cap being reversable, said first portion being a child proof cap, said first and second portions being adapted to removably couple wit said threads on said bottle, said first portion being adapted to resist removal of said first cap from the lip of said bottle by a child.

3. The timed medication container for tracking times of medication use as in claim 1, further comprising:

a second cap removably closing bottles, said second cap being generally indentical to said first cap, said second cap having generally larger dimensions than said first cap such that said second cap is adapted to fit on the lip of relatively larger bottles than said first cap; and

a first adapter for allowing said timer to be inserted into said second cap, said first adapter forming a ring having an interior and exterior surface, said interior and exterior surfaces being threaded, wherein said timer may be releasably coupled with said interior surface of said first adapter, wherein said exterior surface of said first adapter may be releasably coupled with said threads in said second cap.

4. The timed medications container for tracking times of medication use as in claim 1, wherein said time further comprises:

said control circuitry comprising a microprocessor;

a surface of said display being generally flush with said top surface of said top wall of said timer, wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display.

5. The timed medication container for tracking times of medication use as in claim 1, further comprising:

a second adapter for allowing said timer to be removably coupled to a surface, said second adapter having a bottom wall, said bottom wall being generally annular shaped, a side wall being fixedly coupled to and extending away from a peripheral edge of said bottom wall, said side wall having an interior surface, said interior surface being adapted to releasably receive said timer; and

a coupling patch for securing said bottom wall of said second adapter to a surface, said coupling patch having a front side and a back side, said front and back sides of said coupling patch having adhesive thereon, wherein said front side of said coupling patch is secured to said bottom wall of said second adapter, wherein said back side of said coupling patch is securable to a surface.

6. The timed medication container for tracking times of medication use as in claim 1, further comprising:

a container, said second container forming a housing, said container being divided into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments having a lid thereon, each of said lids being hingedly connected to said container;

a timer for tracking medication use, said timer being coupled to an end of said second container, said timer having atop wall, said top wall having a plurality of bores therein;

control circuitry being fixedly mounted in an interior of said timer, said control circuitry being adapted for tracking elapsing time, and adapted for activation of an alarm;

a display for displaying information from said control circuitry, said display being mounted on said control circuitry, said display being operationally coupled to said control circuitry; and

a plurality of buttons for programming said control circuitry, each of said buttons being in one of said bores in said top wall of said timer.

7. The timed medication container for tracking times of medication use as in claim 1, further comprising:

a slot, said slot being in a medial portion of said top wall of said timer.

8. A timed medication container kit for tracking times of medication use, said timer medication container comprising:

a bottle for housing the medication, said bottle having an open end, said open end having a lip thereon, said lip being annular, said lip having threads formed thereon;

a first cap for removably closing said bottle, said first cap having a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portion being generally annular, said first and second portions each having an interior threaded surface, said first portion being a child proof cap, said first and second portions being adapted to removably couple with said threads on said bottle, said first portion being adapted to resist removal of said first cap from the lip of said bottle by a child;

a second cap for removably closing bottles, said second cap being generally indentical to said first cap, said second cap having generally larger dimensions than said first cap such that said second cap is adapted to fit on the lip of relatively larger bottles than said first cap;

a timer for tracking medication use, said timer having a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending therebetween, said peripheral side wall having threads theron, said peripheral side wall having three bores therein, wherein said threads on said peripheral wall of said timer may be removably coupled with said threads in said first or second portion of said first cap;

a slot, said slot being in a medical portion of said top wall of said timer;

control circuitry being fixedly mounted in an interior of said timer, said control circuitry being adapted for tracking elapsing time, and adapted for activation of an alarm, said control circuitry comprising a microprocessor;

a desplay for displaying information from said control circuitry, said display being mounted on said control circuitry, a surface of said display being generally flush with said top surface of said top wall of said timer, said display being operationally coupled to said control circuitry, wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal display;

three buttons for progamming said control circuitry, each of said buttons being in one of said bores in said timer such that said buttons are not accessible when said timer is threadably received in one of said caps, each of said buttons being fixedly coupled to said control circuitry;

first adapter for allowing said timer to be inserted into said second cap, said first adapter forming a ring having an interior and exterior surface, said interior and exterior surfaces being threaded, wherein said timer may be releasably coupled with said interior surface of said first adapter, wherein said exterior surface of said first adapter may be releasably coupled with said threads in said second cap;

a second adapter for allowing said timer to be removably coupled to a surface, said second adapter having a bottom wall, said bottom wall being generally annular shaped, a side wall being fixedly coupled to and extending away from a peripheral edge of said bottom wall, said side wall having an interior surface, said interior surface being adapted to releasably receive said timer;

a coupling patch for securing said bottom wall of said second adapter to a surface, said coupling patch having a front side and a back side, said front and back sides of said coupling patch having adhesive thereon, wherein said front side of said coupling patch is secured to said bottom wall of said second adapter, wherein said back side of said coupling patch is securable to a surface; and

wherein said timer is releasably inserted and removed from said first and second adapters and said first cap, wherein an edge of an object is inserted in said slot to turn said timer with respect to said first cap and said first and second adapters.

9. The timed medication container kit for tracking times of medication use as in claim 8, further comprising:

a container, said container forming a housing, said container being divided into a plurality of comparments, each of said compartments having a lid thereon, each of said lids being hingedly connected to said container;

a timer for tracking medication use, said timer being coupled to an end of said container, said timer having a top wall, said top wall having a plurality of bores therein;

control circuitry being fixedly mounted in an interior of said timer, said control circuitry being adapted for tracking elapsing time, and adapted for activation of an alarm;

a display for displaying information from said control circuitry, said display being mounted on said control circuitry, said display being operationally coupled to said control circuitry; and

a plurality of buttons for programming said control circuitry, each of said buttons being in one of said bore in said top wall of said timer.